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Majority of L.A. Taxis to Go 'Green' Over Next 5 Years
Other cities do it, but in Los Angeles taxi cab franchises are not required to have a fleet of fuel efficient vehicles. Now, thanks to a vote of the L.A. City Council today, a new contract with nine franchises means that by 2016, 80% of cabs on city streets will have to be green. In past months, the issue has been hotly debated with crowds packing committee meetings. Some argued that phasing in clean cars should be done in two years. Others said a five-year contract would allow for industry stability, allowing time to recoup the investment made in new alternative fuel vehicles purchases.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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